See the rarest Porsches in America at the Petersen Automotive Museum

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A very rare 1938 Berlin-Rome Type 64 race car at The Porsche Effect, a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

With rarely seen vehicles, cool rides and rocket-fast sports cars, the Petersen Automotive Museum’s latest exhibition looks at the evolution of the Porsche.

Split between the museum’s first floor Mullin Grand Salon and its basement vault, “The Porsche Effect,” which coincides with the 70-year anniversary of the brand, opens Feb. 3 and runs through Jan. 27 2019. The exhibition is made up of dozens of cars, historical documents and artifacts that trace the evolution of the cars not just as road and race vehicles, but also as works of kinetic art.

“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Porsche Gulf 917K at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The 1979 Porsche 935 K3 at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“The Porsche Effect”, a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A Porsche designed chair on display at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The clean dash lines of a Porsche Speedster at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A 1951 Porsche 356 Roadster at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The “Risky Business” Porsche 928 at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The unmistakable fender of a vintage Porsche at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Steve McQueen’s 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Speedster on display at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A modified Porsche 356 at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A very rare 1938 Berlin-Rome Type 64 race car at The Porsche Effect, a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Steve McQueen’s 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Speedster on display at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A 928 prototype station wagon built by Porsche on display at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The tail end of a 1967 Porsche 910 race car at “The Porsche Effect,” a display that focuses on the impact of the German car from a cultural and design perspective with a selection of sports and race cars along with renderings and engines opens at the Peterson Automotive Museum on Feb. 3. It is also the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

“This exhibit is about how Porsche has managed to create this timeless silhouette, this memorable appeal that’s created such a large fanbase,” said Brittanie Kinch, the exhibition’s co-curator.

All of the cars in the exhibition would turn heads on the street, but here are a few in the collection that will really turn your head at the museum.

The one that shaped the future

The Car: 1939 Type 64 60K10

Only three of these cars were built to compete in the 1939 Berlin-Rome endurance race, but World War II put a stop to that event.

“It has this amazing body that’s the predecessor of all Porsches that are on the road today. If you look at this car it is a study in aerodynamic design. Obviously it’s a gorgeous car,” Kinch said.

The first family Porsche

The Car: 1987 928 H50

Regarded as an early precursor the Porsche Panamera, this 310 horsepower burgundy egg-shaped concept car looks like a wagon on steroids with its four doors and big rear windows for the kids to see the road fly by a top speeds of 160 mph.

The one with Hollywood cool

The Car: 1958 356A 1600 Super Speedster

This low-to-the-ground black convertible with a black top and white steering wheel already looks cool enough on the display platform. But it becomes even cooler when you find out that it was owned by the King of Cool, actor Steve McQueen. The actor and avid racer bought the car and raced it at Willow Springs and Laguna Seca.

“That’s another example of Hollywood really adopting Porsche as a symbol of status and sex appeal,” Kinch said.

The rare siblings

It’s not often that these two road rockets are seen side-by-side. The race version is a 600 horsepower beast that can reach speeds of up to 206 mph. Only nine were ever built.

And at 544 horsepower, with a top speed of 194 mph, the street version of this race car wouldn’t be left far behind on the track. The street version includes a softer suspension, more ground clearance and, according to the plaque at the exhibition, a “more civilized interior.”

“It’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people outside the factory or who have never been to the Porsche Museum to see them together,” Kinch said.

The movie star

The Car: 1979 928

Tom Cruise was a very bad boy in the 1983 comedy “Risky Business.” When his overbearing parents took off for the weekend he raided the liquor cabinet, danced around in his skivvies and took his dad’s silver Porsche 928, which ultimately ended up taking a dive into Lake Michigan.

One of the four cars used in the film that didn’t end up in the water is on display in the basement as part of the exhibition. And the keys are in the ignition. But don’t even think about it.